Open Letter From Carlos Freitag
President of IDSF - Sant Cugat, February 12, 2007

Dear IDSF members and friends

As you all know, during these last six months many things have happened and a lot of important initiatives have been commenced. We are now starting to see the benefits of this work.

But one of the most exciting developments, following a motion which was overwhelmingly approved by the 2006 IDSF AGM in Wels, has been to support the creation of the International Professional DanceSport Council (IPDSC) in Rome an December 12th, 2006.

One of the matters highlighted by the members present at this foundation meeting was the need to have the IPDSC as an independent and separate legal entity to IDSF.

Since the foundation meeting, IPDSC has now conducted their first Championship at the beginning of January, 2007 in Madrid. As a consequence of the establishment of IPDSC and the successful conduct of this Championship, the WDC is becoming very nervous.

You all have seen the Open letters sent by Donnie Burns, Karl Breuer, Rudi Trautz and George Coad. We are disappointed with the contents of these letters and we will publish a corresponding Press Release, as the answer to these letters, very soon.

We are being presented as the aggressors in wanting to start a war with WDC. However, the facts show that IDSF has no desire to start a war and that we have exercised great restraint over many years.

In this regard, I would like to remind you that we have always worked to avoid confrontation and we have never taken the first step.

It was on January 25th, 2004 in Kiev, Ukraine, that a number of prominent professionals including Donnie Burns, Stanislav Popov and Leonid Pletnev signed the first agreement of mutual cooperation and support with a “so called” amateur federation called IDU. This was very provocative because it was clearly the intention of these persons to undermine IDSF. Despite this, IDSF did not react.

In 2006, a Press release signed by Donnie Burns in the name of the WDC, provided support to another “so called” amateur federation called IDSA. Again, IDSF did not react.

During the last two years, WDC has directly or indirectly supported, promoted or even tried to influence in some countries the creation of new IDU federations such as South Africa. Again, IDSF has not reacted.

At every Championship organized by IDU or IDSA you will see prominent WDC members supporting these events.

Therefore, IDSF has never reacted against WDC in the way that WDC is now reacting to IDSF and the creation of IPDSC. It must be understood that IPDSC is a creation of the dissatisfaction by a group of prominent professionals, our Italian member body and IDSF generally.

Despite all the provocations, IDSF has always shown great respect and exercised great restraint when dealing with difficulties created by WDC and its members. In fact, IDSF never takes action in reaction to WDC. Rather, we have been and will continue to work to develop DanceSport as a sport. If at times this creates conflict because WDC believe that it is an attack, then let me say it again – it is not an attack.

Of course, we will not select IDSF licensed judges to judge any IDSF event and, we will not allow competitors registered with national members to compete in IDSF events if, they have participated in IDU or IDSA events. In the circumstances, can anyone honestly believe that this is unreasonable?

We have not started this confrontation and we do not wish it to continue.

I would ask Rudi Trautz, a very well recognized international Trainer and Judge, as to why he did not write a letter to WDC in 2004 when they first supported IDU? Was this not provocative to IDSF?

I again confirm that any of our actions and our support of IPDSC are not meant as an attack on WDC or its members. Since WDC has never considered our 2002 “Zurich Memorandum” to create one peak body, we are merely pursuing a policy to develop DanceSport by working with professionals who wish to work with us. It is our duty and obligation to fulfil our roles and responsibilities as an IOC Recognised International Sports Federation.

The WDC has been supposedly pursuing a “free market for everybody”, but with the establishment of IPDSC this has now changed. It appears that the WDC idea of a “free market” was a “one way street” where WDC could support unrecognised “amateur federations” but IDSF has somehow started a war because we assisted to create and support IPDSC. That is, a professional body which is a separate legal entity to look after the interests of professional competitors and to comply with democratic sports principles and philosophies including adherence to the IOC and WADA Anti-Doping Codes. IPDSC is also a body which is prepared to work with IDSF to develop DanceSport. IDSF will consider IPDSC as the vehicle for professional competitors and competitions. As the sole IOC Recognised International Sports Federation for DanceSport, IDSF is at liberty to accept any and all athletes and any and all organisations to assist in the development and growth of DanceSport.

To the best of my knowledge and belief, this letter summarises the actual situation.

As we face all the challenges which lie ahead, our doors will remain open towards the WDC. We are always ready to speak but of course the circumstances are different.

I can assure all of you that we will work to restore harmony. In the meantime, I would request all of you to ensure that IDSF works very closely together so that we can support each other and continue to achieve our objectives.

Thank you for reading this letter carefully.
Please receive my best regards,

Carlos Freitag
President of IDSF